Schloss Eggenberg

The first impression you’ll get of Eggenberg castle when you walk up to its gates, are the many peacocks roaming the extensive grounds. These unusual, stunning birds are not only harbingers of the beauty that awaits you inside the castle, they also hint at the eccentricities of its founder, who built the castle in the 17th century as a symbol of his newly acquired status in the Imperial Court.

Graz

To get the most out of a visit to Eggenberg castle in Graz, a guided tour of the state rooms is a must. You’ll soon find out that the castle contains many intriguing secrets that are not immediately obvious: such as the fact that the building includes remnants of Medieval structures, or that the entire layout of the castle is based on astronomical symbolism taken from the – at that point in history – brand new Gregorian calendar.

You’ll find that the castle features exactly 365 windows, 31 rooms on each floor, 24 state rooms with 52 doors and 4 corner towers, all alluding to time, the seasons, weeks, days, hours, and minutes. Even the wall paintings in the stately Planetensaal (Planet Hall) are part of this intricate concept.

If you have additional time, make sure to take a stroll through the gardens of Schloss Eggenberg. Although little remains of the original 17th century layout, it is today a beautiful example of the landscaped gardens of the Romantic period and is regarded as one of the most precious garden monuments in Austria. Peacocks included.